Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
2940. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE patients who have been facilitated for treatment in the US for full or partial removal of transobturator mesh implants; if a patient could access public funding for such treatment in the US; if so, the person or body that authorises this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39674/21]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services.
The HSE has indicated that as the procedure is available in Ireland it does not fall under the qualifying criteria for the Treatment Abroad Scheme. A multidisciplinary National Specialist Centre has been developed over 2 sites at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) and the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) Dublin and these have received specific funding from the HSE for the provision of these services. Full details of MESH removal services and contact information for relevant hospitals are available on the HSE website at www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/vaginal-mesh-implants/. Women affected by mesh continue to be strongly encouraged to engage with the relevant HSE contact points and the associated care pathways, to ensure that their service needs can be identified and provided for.
